A couple have found a unique way to make their long-haul flights more bearable, by booking one business class seat and the rest in economy – claiming it makes them “better parents”.

Travel enthusiasts Minna Havstad and her husband Andy, both 34, used to struggle with exhaustion during lengthy flights with their three year old daughter, Malva.

The couple explained that managing Malva’s restlessness, along with their luggage, snacks, and frequent toilet trips, meant they couldn’t catch any sleep, making the first day of their holiday incredibly challenging.

Their solution?

They now book one seat in business class and another in economy next to Malva. Halfway through the flight, they switch places, ensuring each parent gets a few hours of peace.

The savvy parents, who use points to upgrade their seats, claim this strategy has transformed their flying experience, and they’ve implemented it several times.

They believe it makes them better parents as the break allows them to be more alert and present with their daughter. They plan to continue this practice for as long as necessary.

Minna, a travel content creator from Woking, Surrey, said: “Last year we flew to China and Hong Kong, and we all sat in economy – none of us slept at all. We were all knackered when we arrived and it was challenging trying to get through immigration and to the hotel in a new country, with jet lag too.

“After that we had the idea to upgrade one seat and it made such a difference. Malva is quite a good sleeper but she likes to sleep on you – so you can’t really move and it can be uncomfortable without much leg room when you’re in economy with her.

“Having a bit of me time and and lie down in business means we can parent so much better.”

Minna and Andy, who works as a pharmaceutical manager, frequently jet off due to Minna’s career, with little Malva having visited 18 countries during her three years on earth.

Her passport boasts stamps from destinations including Brazil, Norway, China, Morocco, Albania and Sweden – with several journeys involving lengthy long-haul flights spanning multiple time zones.

The couple discovered they were battling to complete entire flights without proper rest whilst caring for Malva – and ultimately devised a clever strategy to address this challenge.

Minna, who operates the ‘Toddler Travel Diaries’ blog and Instagram page, explained: “The trip to Brazil was the longest we had done – we were flying from Sweden where we’d been staying with my family, so it was 17 hours.

“The idea of being in economy for 17 hours was tough. We compared it to our flight to China and Hong Kong where nobody got any sleep – it was very challenging.

“And when you get to the new country, if you’ve not slept, it can kind of ruin the first day. When we booked one business class flight, both of us got the chance to get at least four to five hours sleep – meaning we can both function until the evening.

“We do always make sure to check with flight staff beforehand, and keep swaps to a minimum, to be respectful and avoid disruption.

“So far everyone has always been very nice about it, and accommodating.”

They have now used this strategy four or five times, offsetting the cost of the upgrade with their air miles and loyalty points, and they believe it’s made them better parents.

Minna admitted that while they’d be “more hesitant” to pay for a business class seat at three times the price of economy if they didn’t have their air miles, they’d likely still foot the bill themselves.

She revealed that since sharing their experiences with others, reactions have been mixed – with some suggesting they should all decide to stay together – while others said they’d consider adopting the same approach for their own future trips.

Minna added: “The hardest part is being summoned back to economy after a stint in business class! It makes us more alert, awake and patient – so we’re both able to parent better.”